Todd was a bridge mason before the war. Was also a member of the Missouri State Guard before joining Quantrill in January of 1862. Todd was one of the Partisan Rangers who participated in the pay back at Lawrence, Kansas on August 21, 1863.

In October 1864, the guerrillas pushed Generals Blunt, Jennison, and Moonlight 2 ½ miles northeast of Independence. It was there that Todd was killed in action by a Yankee sharpshooter on October 21, 1864.

He was carried by his men to the house of a Mrs. Burns, where he died about an hour later. Todd's men buried him that night in the Independence Cemetery. David Poole then took command of his unit.